10/27/2004: Fuel tanker crash melts bridge

[xoxoxoBruce]

From the link in UT's post;

A fuel tanker crashed and burned at one of Alabama's busiest highway interchanges during morning rush hour today. The fiery wreck partially melted a bridge and could result in months of traffic problems while the overpass is demolished and replaced. The wreck -- which occurred at the intersection of Interstates 20/59 and 65 -- was the second such crash at "malfunction junction" since January 2002. Authorities said a tanker carrying fuel overturned in a curve about 7 a.m., spilling an estimated 9,000 gallons of fuel that erupted into flames and sent a huge column of black smoke skyward.

Nothing in the pictures or text about "tanker crashed off the bridge". The additional "Seven more images", Ut mentioned were at the link, show more of the crash scene. The guard rails are intact because he/she didn't hit them, the truck rolled. The link shows the crash scene, UT showed the fire damage, neither mention the fate of the driver which would be the human interest or emotional angle.
TW- You jumped the gun, an emotional mini-lecture without checking the complete story.......this time. :p
UT- It's always a good post when it stirs the imagination and curiosity to look into it further.

[russotto]

Originally Posted by tw

For example, where is the hole where that tanker crashed off the bridge? If it crashed off before the bridge and down the grass embankment, then why are the lower roadway guardrails intact? If this roadway has a sharp curve, then where is that curve?

The tanker did not crash off the bridge. It crashed into the bridge from the roadway which passes under it. The curve is clearly visible in the second-to-last picture at EHOW.

http://www.aoanet.org/conditions/vision_conditions.asp

[xoxoxoBruce]

I don't think it crashed into anything. Looks like it rolled and spilled it's load while sliding parallel to the guard rail.

[tw]

Originally Posted by russotto

The tanker did not crash off the bridge. It crashed into the bridge from the roadway which passes under it. The curve is clearly visible in the second-to-last picture at EHOW.

If you are trying to tell me that that gentle curve in the distance was sufficient for a truck to roll a thousand feet down a highway, then it is your brain that needs a vision perscription - a direct reference to russottos intentional, irrelevant and personal insult link. Obviously, if that distant on ramp had anything to do with the crash, then there is far more to the crash than just a truck going too fast. But again - and even demonstrated by russotto's post - facts are irrelevant. Only hype and insults are important.

Clearly something more serious or complex happened. But we would never know. The photographer concentrated only on the smoke and ashes. He did not even show skid marks - which would have helped learn something. There is no text description. Where is an accident summary? Was he cut off by an aggressive SUV? Did another truck strike his trailer? Did his brakes fail or did he have to use brakes? Was he driving down that ramp at excess of 100 MPH? Was he sun blinded. Did bin Laden flash him a moon? What does that look like after 20 years of no toilet paper? Just more examples of how emotion was more important than the truth.

[cbane]

Originally Posted by tw

Each picture is perfect for those who love the emotion attached to an event. That's not me. Why did this crash occur? What was the mistake he made so that all others never make that mistake again?

For example, where is the hole where that tanker crashed off the bridge? If it crashed off before the bridge and down the grass embankment, then why are the lower roadway guardrails intact? If this roadway has a sharp curve, then where is that curve?

Here's a picture that my dad found which shows the area around the accident.

We don't even know if the truck driver survived in the topmost pictures. We have been provided so few facts from the pictures as to learn almost nothing. That's not cool.

According to this, the driver wasn't hurt.

I was rather supprised to find this on the IOTD, because I go through over the damaged bridge on the way home, and next to it on the way to school.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Excellent, Cbane! Welcome to the Cellar, stick around a bit and you might be amused.